-LRB- EW.com -RRB- -- EW has confirmed that producers Mike Tollin -LRB- `` Varsity Blues , '' `` Coach Carter '' -RRB- and Glenn Rigberg -LRB- `` Struck By Lightning '' -RRB- have obtained the rights to make a feature film biopic about Henry `` Hank '' Aaron , the baseball legend who broke Babe Ruth 's decades-long career home-run record on April 8 , 1974 .

This project has instantly become one of the hottest sports movie projects in Hollywood .

Barry Levinson -LRB- `` The Natural '' -RRB- is attached to direct , working with screenwriter Adam Mazer , who wrote Levinson 's HBO biopic on Jack Kevorkian , `` You Do n't Know Jack , '' which Rigberg exec produced . Based on Howard Bryant 's book `` The Last Hero : The Life Story of Henry Aaron , '' the film will trace the two years from 1972 to 1974 during which Aaron chased , and bested , Babe Ruth 's record -- an accomplishment that was met with both breathless media coverage as well as death threats .

Aaron , who has been reportedly reluctant in the past to agree to a film version of his life , will consult on the film . He first worked with Tollin on the latter 's Oscar-nominated 1995 feature documentary , `` Hank Aaron : Chasing the Dream , '' and the two have remained friends since . Tollin sits on the board of the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation , and tells EW he plans for proceeds from the film to be funneled back into the Foundation .

`` This -LSB- film -RSB- is something we 've toyed with and talk about all the time , '' Tollin says . `` It 's challenging for Henry , because in some ways , it was the darkest time of his life , even though it was the most triumphant in professional terms . But as we talked about it , I think he grew more comfortable with our approach to it and having it shine a light on where America was in those times , and how far we 've progressed -- and maybe how far we still have to go . ''

Casting will not begin in earnest until the script is completed . The hope is to go into production next year , and release in 2014 , in time for both the 40th anniversary of Aaron 's record , and the man 's 80th birthday .

See the full article at EW.com .

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A biopic is being made about Henry `` Hank '' Aaron , the baseball legend

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Aaron broke Babe Ruth 's decades-long career home-run record on April 8 , 1974

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Aaron will consult on the film with producer Mike Tollin